Meat tenderer



Nov. 9, 1937. J. E. BRIDGES l MEAT TENDERER Filed May 22, 1937 KMX@ www N .MN NN.

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Patented Nov. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEAT TENDERER n Joseph E. Bridges, Independence,Mo. Application 'May ,22, r1937,- seifiai-Nd 144,275

3 claims. (o1.r rif-soi My invention relates to improvements in meat tenderers, more particularly upon the device( and further that if the end of the frame remote from the handle struck the meat first, the strain on the metal would tend to breakthe frameat a position in proximity of the center thereof due to the elongated recessed portions in therframe lengthwise of the latter. It 'has also been found that the upstanding series of spaced projections disposed on the head portion of the frame do not allow free action of the curved controlling spring for the cleaner element since such`projections have permanently aligned contact with the under face of the spring. It is therefore an important object of this invention to construct the handle of the tenderer and disposed in such relation with respect to the ffralmefor'knifeV body that the possibility of breaking on' the handle under any working conditions is substantially eliminated. Y n, YA further object of the inventionresidesin the construction of the frame of a meattenderer or chopper, wherein a plurality of upstanding pro'- jections for reinforcing the top of the frame are normally out of contact with the cleaner element controlling spring to allow for the 'free action of the spring at all times.

The invention further aims to provide in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a unit in the form of a combined handle and frame or knife body for use in devices of the class referred which is extremely durable, rigid, simple'in construction, thoroughly efficient in use and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture. Y ,i With the foregoing and other objects in View, the invention consists of a novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein is shown an embodimentv of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations andmodifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the assembled device, Figure 2 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure '1' with one of the cutting knives removed,vv

v is ofthe same Width as the band 4b.

FigureS is a sectional elevational view taken on lines 3 3, Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a sectional elevational view taken on lines 4 4, Figure 2,

YFigure 5 is a sectional elevational view taken on lines 5 5, .Figure 2,

Y,Figure is a fragmentary plan view taken on lines'B-G, Figure 2,

Figure 7 is a sectional elevational View taken onglines ,1 -1, Figure 2, and Y Figure 8` is a sectional elevational view taken onlines 8 8, Figure l..

y With;reference' to the drawing, the meat tendereror chopper generally indicated at 2 includes afhorizontally disposed handle 4 formed of a 15;

panel-like body part 4a and a reinforcement 4b in the form of a split band extending throughout the top,zbottom and rear end edges of body part 4a. Thevband and body part are set up from a unitary metallic casting. The band is so dis- 20 posed with respect"to the top, bottom and outer end-edges of body part 4a to provide oppositely disposed laterally extending flanges through the top, bottom and rear end edges of the member. The latter is formed of a horizontally disposed rear portion 4 and a depending rearwardly inclined forward portion 6 forming a flush continuation of the inner end of the portion 4. The portion 4 is of greater length than that of portion 6. The forward end of the portion 6 merges into the outer face of a tubular vertical bearing forming a part of a carrier or frame 8 to be referred to. The width of the rear end of part 6 is greaterV than the height of said bearing. The handle 4 inrvertical section at any part through 35 its lengthis of I-beam contour. It will be noted that the angle of inclination of portion 6 is approximately 45 degrees with respect to the bearing into which it merges, at which angularity the strainon the metal forming the portion 6 is ma- 40 terially increased in order to prevent breakage of the handle from the frame.

The carrier or frame 8 constitutes what may be termed ,a knife body and it includes a wide flat horizontally disposed apertured head IB, a blade 45 spacer portion I2 integral with the lower face of, depending from and of less thickness and length than that of head I0, and a pair of vertically disposed tubular bearings I4, I6 arranged at the ends of portion I2 and merging at their upper 50 ends into the lower face of head I0. The head l0 forms a continuation of the upper end of and The forward end portion 6 of handle 4 merges into bearingl and head I0 and is ush with the inner r55 end of bearing I6 and upper face of head I0. The openings provided by the bearings I4, I6 are indicated at I8, 28 respectively.

The device includes a vertically movable cleaner element 2| in the form of a U-shaped bar 22, hav- Y The U-shaped bar is free to reciprocate vera` tically in the bearings I4, I6, but the bar is restricted in its vertical movement by a slightly convex spring 3U which at its extremeends overlie the fastening means 28 on the sides `or legs of the bar 22. The central portion of the springV 30 is adapted to normally overlie a threadedrecess 32 (Figure 5) formed in an upstanding circular' projection 34 on and at the transverse median of the head IIJ of the frame 8. VThe central portion of the spring-Suhas an aperture 36 through which extends a threaded bolt 31 vor the like for engaging in the threaded recess'32. A-cap-like retaining member 38 having downwardly extendingV sides 40 is interposedbetweenthe head Aof the bolt 3'Irand the spring 30 in order to retain the spring 30 in proper alignment with the legs 24', 26 of the U- shaped cleaner bar 22. '-The head I0 immediately adjacent the projection 34 has a pairof upstanding projections 42 in proximity to the -projections 34 for the purpose-of reinforcing the frame 8 centrally thereof. It will beY noted that vthe `projections 42 do not extend vertically upwardas far as the projection 34.V This is so that they will normally remain out of contactzwith the under face of the spring 30 in order to allow for a free movement of the spring at all times.

The reduced depending portion I2 of the frame 8, Figure 2 has formed in its front and in its rear face a pair of oppositely disposed depressions 44, each arranged between the vertical median and an end of said portion- I2. Each depression gradually increases in depth from itsouter to its inner end. These depressions or groovestend to give some resiliency to the frame 8 without weakening the frame at the center thereof. The portion I2 is also apertured at V46 and 41 for alignment with apertures 46a and 4'Ia respectively in a pair of cutting knives 48 and 50 positioned against the front and rear of portion I2 and abutting head III. 'Ihe knives 48 and 50 are identical in construction and are provided with like spaced teeth 52 having sharpened cutting edges 54 at the ends thereof. The knives 48 and 50 are mounted on the portion I2 in oppositely disposed relation in order that the teeth of one knife will be arranged in staggered relation with respect to the teeth of the other. The respective knives 48 and 40 are secured to the portion YI2 of the frame 8 by threaded bolts 58 and cooperating nut 60 which extends through the aligned apertures 46, 46a, 41412. vItrwill be noted that an ear 62 is formed on the reduced portion I2 adjacent the aperture 4l and the point connecting the bearing I6 and the portion 6 of handle 4. This ear 62 is for the purpose of reinforcing the frame 8 to A that the respective knives 48 and 50 are in abut-V ting relationwith the enlarged head I8 as shown at 66 which further prevents the movement of strengthened at all possible shearing points of the frame member to prevent any fracturing or breaking of the frame or handle under ordinary working conditions.

What I claim is:

1. In a meat tender a knife carrier formed of a depending portion, a head and a pair of tubular bearings integral with the ends of said portion, said headv being integral'with oneeendfof said bearings and formed-:with openings having Similarly, the Y Y their walls-'registering with the inner faces of the bearings, the width of theA head being greater thanthe vthickness of said portion, ay horizontally disposed handle lmember of'I-shaped contour in transverse cross section at anypoint throughout its length and disposed on its'lower lengthwise edge, said member including a downwardly inclined forward portion having-its forward end integral throughout thereof with one end of said head and one of said bearings,V said head forming a flush continuationof the upper lengthwise edge of said member, the lower' lengthwise edge of said member beingflush with the bottom of the said bearing, and said carrier including a pair of outer lugs and an inner lug,*said lugs being arranged in spaced relation, ksaid'lugs being integral with the upperwface of saidjhead,v the pair of outer lugs beingof less height than the inner lug, the latter being formed` with a. threaded socket and disposed at the transverse median of the head. l i

2. vIn a meatL tenderer a knife carrienformed of'a depending portion, a hea'djand a pair of tubular bearings integral with the ends of ,said portion, said head being'integral with one endof said bearings and formed with openings having their wallsA registering with the inner faces of the bearings, the width of the head being kgreater than the thickness of said portion, a horizontally disposed handle member of I-shaped contour in transverse cross section at any point throughout its length and disposed on its lower lengthwise edge, saidmember including adownwardly inclined forward portion having its forward end integral throughout thereof withgone endof 'said'l head and one of said bearings,`said head forming a flush continuation of the upper lengthwise edge of said member, the lower lengthwise-edge of said member being ush'with the bottom of the said bearing, and said carrier including a pair of outer lugs and an inner lug, said lugs being arranged in spaced relation, said lugs being integral with the upper face of said head, thepair of outer lugs being of less height than the innerlug,y the latter being formed with a threaded socket and disposed at the transverse median of the head,y and said portion being formed in its front and back with a pair of oppositely disposed depressions lengthwise thereof, each of said depressions gradually increasing in depth from its outer to'l its inner end, the inner ends of said depressions being araoesse 3 ranged between the vertical median and the ends of said portion.

3. In a. meat tenderer, a horizontal knife carrier disposed on one of its lengthwise edges and having its front and baok formed With a pair of oppositely disposed spaced endwise aligned depressions lengthwise thereof, each of said depressions gradually increasing in depth from its outer to its inner end, said depressions being arranged between the vertical median and the ends of the carrier, and a horizontal handle member of I-beam form provided with a forward down- Wardly inclined portion integral at its forward end with one end of said carrier, the lengthwise edges of said member being flush with the lengthwise edges of said carrier.

JOSEPHy E. BRIDGES. 

